the goan I network
MARGAO
Playing the Bahujan Samaj card to corner the rival BJP and the Congress, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday proposed the candidature of young councilor Pooja Naik for the post of Margao Municipal Chairperson, saying the regional party wanted to give the opportunity to a young woman from the Bahujan Samaj to preside over the Margao municipality.
That’s not all. Sardesai further said that Goa Forward is willing to sit and discuss the matter if the rival group in the civic body has any alternative from the Bahujan Samaj for the same post.
Reminding that the Goa Forward is the single largest group in the Margao civic body with 11 councilors, Sardesai took pot shots at the opposition groups coming together for a marriage of convenience.
Announcing GFP’s decision to project Pooja as the party candidate for the post of MMC chairperson, Sardesai said, “Our candidate is a representative of the Bahujan Samaj. But, we are ready to discuss with the rival group if they have a capable candidate from the same community.”
“Pooja is a new face. For the first time in the history of the Margao, a woman from the Bahjan Samaj will be chairperson. We appeal to like-minded people to extend their support to Pooja,” he said. “In the past, certain people had said that both Vijai and Babita Prabhudesai were Saraswats. These people had also said that the party’s first president was also a Saraswat. But, we would now like to give an opportunity for a Bahujan Samaj woman to take over the reigns of office,” he said. When the media drew Vijai’s attention that Pooja’s candidature has been proposed by the party at the fag end of the municipal term, he shot back saying “better late than never. At least, I thought of the proposal now, but these people have been councilors for so many years, but did not think about the Bahujan Samaj. They only sought their votes.”
BJP councilor
extends support
to Pooja
MARGAO: Moments after Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai proposed the candidature of Pooja Naik for the post of Margao Municipal Chairperson, opposition councilor Raju Shirodkar came out openly in support of Pooja for the coveted post.
Raju Shirodkar, who was part of the 14-member opposition group of councilors, pointed out that he had given his word to Pooja a couple of months ago to support her candidature.
“I will support Pooja’s candidature for the chairperson’s post. I had given Pooja my word to support her candidature given that she hails from the Bahujan Samaj. I will honour my word and extend support to Pooja,” Shirodkar said.
Saying that political affiliations have no place in the local self government bodies, Shirodkar said he will extend his support to Pooja, irrespective of the stand taken by the BJP in the council.
Sources say that Goa Forward’s tally in the MMC may go up to 12 if Shirodkar stands by Pooja in the election of the new chairperson and the regional party may now require one more vote to retain its stranglehold over the civic body.
